Political situation in Turkey

Pro-Kurdish mayor is stopped from taking office

Pro-Kurdish politician Abdullah Zeydan won this weekend's mayoral election in the city of Van in eastern Turkey but will not be allowed to take office, several media reports.

The decision has been made by the local electoral authority, which instead assigns the seat to the electoral second, which belongs to President Erdogan's ruling AKP party. It is not clear on what grounds the decision was made.

From Zeydan's party DEM, the decision is met with anger. Deputy party leader Tuncer Bakirhan calls the decision a "political coup".

Abdullah Zeydan was imprisoned in 2016 for collusion with members of the PKK, he was released from prison in 2022. Erdogan's government has previously arrested several pro-Kurdish politicians on charges of collusion with militant groups.

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Clashes between protesters and police

Police and protesters have clashed in the Turkish city of Van, reports AFP.

Pro-Kurdish DEM party candidate Abdullah Zeydan won Sunday's mayoral election in the city by a wide margin, but is barred from taking office.

In solidarity, people have gathered outside the party's premises in the city and chanted slogans against the ruling AKP party, whose candidate will now become mayor.

The police responded by firing tear gas and using water cannons against the protesters, after which the protesters clashed with the police